Paper feed mechanism

ABSTRACT

A device for quickly loading a document onto a drum for scanning or other purposes comprises a pair of bandlike spiral springs circumferentially wound around the drum adjacent its ends and exerting an inward force against the surface of the drum. Crossbands extending transversely between the springs hold the document flat against the drum surface under the force of the springs. The springs are each fastened to the drum at one end and are readily unwound from the drum by pulling on their free ends to extend them in a flattened position in which they receive the document for loading onto the drum. On release of the free ends the bands rewind around the drum to position the document against its surface.

mite States Patent Von Hippel n51 emes Feb. 8, 1972 54] PAPER FEED MECHANISM [72] Inventor: Eric A. Von Hippel, Weston, Mass.

[73] Assignee: Graphic Sciences, Inc, East Rochester,

[22] Filed: Mar. 19, 1970 21] Appl.No.: 19,542

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 689,641, Dec. H, 1967,

2,638,280 5/1953 Beaudrot, Jr. ..242/67.3

Primary Examiner-Stanley N. Gilreath Assistant Examiner-Wemer H. Schroeder Attorney-Cesari and McKenna ABSTRACT A device for quickly loading a document onto a drum for scanning or other purposes comprises a pair of bandlike spiral springs circumferentially wound around the drumadjacent its ends and exerting an inward force against the surface of the drum. Crossbands extending transversely between the springs hold the document flat against the drum surface under the force of the springs. The springs are each fastened to the drum at one end and are readily unwound from the drum by pulling on their free ends to extend them in a flattened position in which they receive the document for loading onto the drum. On release of the free ends the bands rewind around the drum to position the document against its surface.

21 Claims, 10 Drawing figures PATENTEDFEB 8 I972 SHEEY 1 OF 2 IIIIIIIIIIFIIII INVENTOR. ERIC A. VON HIPPEL PAIENIEMB 81972 3.640.482

sum or 2 I08 INVENTOR.

ERIC A. VON HIPPEL F l a 4%? flmczmww ATTORNEYS PAPER FEED MECHANISM This application is a continuation of application No. 689,641, filed on Dec. II, 1967, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the invention The invention relates to a paper-feeding and clamping mechanism for feeding a document onto a drum and clamping it in position thereon. More particularly, the invention relates to a feeding and clamping mechanism for feeding a document onto a drum of the type used in optical scanning and for clamping the document against the surface of the drum.

2. Prior Art Various techniques have been utilized to load a document onto a drum and lock it into position against the curved surface of the drum. One common technique utilizes an axially extending aperture in the surface of the drum. A number of spring-loaded figures in the aperture are opened and closed manually by the operator to clamp the leading edge or forward margin of the document for positioning against the drum and to release it thereafter. In one variation of this arrangement the fingers are replaced by an eccentrically mounted roller located within the drum and slightly behind the aperture; the roller is urged against the aperture when the leading edge of a document is inserted into it to thereby press the edge of the document firmly against the drum. The trailing edge of the document either is left free or is clamped to the drum by a similar clamping mechanism.

In both of these devices a portion of the document itself is bent into the surface of the drum and may easily be ripped or torn by the clamping mechanism. Further, both require manipulation of the drum by the operator.

In another drum-loading device, a pair of helical coils extend around the drum in closed loops; the operator moves them from side to side to grasp the paper and hold it against the drum. Devices of this type are generally slow to use and frequently require close attention on the part of the operator in properly aligning the document which is being loaded.

In all of these devices the document is loaded directly onto the drum by the operator. This is often undesirable since access to the drum is often obstructed by a protective member or is frequently quite inconvenient.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, one object of the invention is to provide an improved device for loading a document onto a rotatable drum and clamping it in position against its surface. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved drum loader in which the document to be loaded onto the drum is positioned on a horizontal plane by the operator and is subsequently loaded and unloaded without direct contact between the operator and the drum. A further object of the invention is to provide an improved drum loader which is compatible with optical-scanning systems. Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved drum loader which is simple to construct and which is effective and reliable in operation.

Other and further objects and features of the invention will be more readily ascertained from the detailed description hereinafter.

Briefly, my drum loader has a pair of flexible retainer straps coiled circumferentially around the drum, each strap being fixed to the drum at one end thereof. A pair of crossbands extend axially along the drum and are attached to the straps. Each strap is preferably a spiral spring having approximately a single convolution whose natural radius is less than the radius of the "rum. The straps thus coil tightly around the drum and in so doing they press the crossbands against its surface. When a document is to be loaded onto the drum, the free ends of the retainer straps are unwound from the drum and are extended flat in a horizontal plane tangential to the drum. The document is placed on the crossbands and the straps are rewound onto the drum. The crossbands thereupon position the document finnly against its surface under the force exerted by the straps.

The winding and unwinding of the retainer straps may be accomplished by means of a gear or friction drive between the drum and a tray positioned beneath the drum. Alternatively, the tray or other pullout device may be arranged to merely pull on the free ends of the straps and thereby unwind them.

One may also employ more positive arrangements for holding the document in place. For example, poppitt" beads located on one of the crossbands or at the ends of each of the retainer straps may mate with apertures in the surface of the drum for the requisite clamping action. Alternatively. magnets may be utilized to hold both the crossbands and the retainer bands firmly against the drum.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of one embodiment of the invention showing the retainer straps and crossbands fully unwound from the drum and in a horizontal position for receiving a document;

FIGS. 1A and 1B are expanded pictorial views of the respective crossbands;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the drum loader of FIG. 1 showing more clearly the manner in which the retainer bands are unwound from the drum;

FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of the loader of FIGS. 1 and 2 showing the retainer straps and crossbands fully wound and securing the document on the drum;

FIG. 4 is a pictorial view of a drum loader having an alternative form of fastening means;

FIG. 5 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view of still another alternative constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention in which a springloaded double drum is used to assist in the loading operation;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the lines 7-7 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a side view of still another embodiment of the invention in which an auxiliary drum is used to unwind the retainer straps.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As shown in FIGS. I and 2, a cylindrical drum 10 is mounted in brackets 12 for rotation about a shaft 14. Drive means (not shown) are connected to the drum to rotate it for scanning or other purposes. Retainer straps l6 and I8 are attached to the drum at their inner ends and 18a and carry crossbands 20 and 22 on which a document 24 is placed for loading. When the straps 16 and 18 are wound onto the drum, they coil against it and urge the crossbands and the document flat against its surface as seen in FIG. 3.

A tray 28 having side shoulders 30 in frictional engagement with the drum is mounted below the drum in a pair of guides 32. The tray is moved inwardly and outwardly with respect to the drum by means of a handle 34. When the tray is extended outwardly in loading position, as shown in FIG. I, the retainer straps l6 and 13 and the crossbands 20 and 22 lie flat against the surface of the tray.

The straps to and 18 have hooks 36 at their outer or free ends which mate with hooks 38 on the tray when they are unwound from the drum. The band 20 has tabs 40 to facilitate alignment of the document on the crossbands. These tabs may advantageously be formed from a deformable plastic so as to press flat against the drum when the bands are wound on it.

To load the document 24 onto the drum, it is placed face down on the crossbands 20 and 22 with its forward edge firmly butted against the tabs 40. The tray 28 is then pushed in toward the drum. The shoulders 30 of the tray frictionally engage the outer edges of the drum l and rotate it in a clockwise direction (in FIG. 2 of the drawings), thus winding the retainer straps onto the surface of the drum along with the bands 20 and 22 and the document 24.

FIG. 3 shows the tray 28 in its innermost position with the document 24 fully wound on the drum. The tray has been pushed in sufficiently far to move the ends 30a of the shoulders 30 past the bottom of the drum (FIG. 3). This disengages the hooks 36 and 38 and also provides clearance between the tray and the drum. The drum is then free to rotate without interference from the tray 28. An indexing mechanism (not shown) may be provided to ensure that the hooks 36 are positioned at the bottom of the drum for engagement with the hooks 38 when the drum is to be unloaded.

Preferably, the retainer bands 16 and 18 are made from a flexible, resilient material such as spring steel and are biased by coiling them to a relatively small diameter and heat treating them prior to attachment to the drum. The springiness of the bands themselves will then clamp the crossbands 20, 22 and the document 24 firmly against the drum or the crossbands may be formed with a slight bow in their centers extending inwardly toward the drum so that they are pressed tightly against the drum, without sag, by the straps l6 and 18. Auxiliary clamping means may also be used. Thus, the band may be aligned with an axially extending magnet 42 fixed in the surface of the drum. This pulls the band 20 firmly against the surface of the drum. A similar magnet (now shown) may be provided for the crossband 20. These magnets may be incorporated in the crossbands if desired, provided the drum is formed with a metallic surface to which they can adhere. For example, a plastic drum with a steel skin 0.005 inch thick may be used to provide a magnetically attractive surface. Additional clamping forces may be created by properly shaping the crossband as shown in FIG. 1A, which is an enlarged pictorial view of a preferred construction of one of these crossbands showing its structure in more detail. As shown therein, the band 20 has a U-shaped cross section with wall portions 201: and a web portion 20!). This band 20 is attached to the straps I6 and 18 with the wall portions facing inwardly toward the drum. In this manner the crossbands are effectively formed into strengthened beams which are pressed firmly against the surface of the drum by the retainer straps. As shown in FIG. 1B, the trailing edge crossband 22 is constructed similarly to the leading-edge crossband 20 but additionally has a magnet 22b imbedded in the channel 20b and has hooks 200 which clamp onto the retainer straps I6 and 18. The band 22 may be magnetically clamped directly to the drum 10 or may be wound around the drum over the band 20 and magnetically clamped to this band if it is spaced 360 from it. The latter alternative permits the use of a drum of minimum diameter and thus conserves scanning time when the system is used for facsimile operations since the distance the scanning head travels around the drum is minimized.

Instead of using magnets, a pressure-fitting device may be utilized. As shown in FIG. 4, a drum loader using such a device has a pressure bar 44 with a slightly enlarged head 46 attached to the front portion of the leading edge crossband 20. The head 46 is resiliently deformable so as to make a snug fit with an aperture 48 extending axially in the surface of the drum in such a position as to mate with the head 46 when the latter is pressed against it and the straps l6, 18 are drawn up tight. In order to ensure that the head 46 is firmly pushed into the aperture 48 when the document is loaded onto the drum, the tray 28 is modified to have a crossbar 50 extending from side to side w der the leading edge crossband so as to apply positive pressure to the bar 44 and force it into the aperture 48 when the drum is fully rewound.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 4, it may also be desirable to utilize a hook similar to the hooks 36 and extending fully acrossthe underside of the crossband 20; a corresponding hook may then be provided on the tray 28 to ensure adequate gripping force for removing the head 46 from the aperture 48 when the rum is to be unloaded.

Other systems of pressing the document flat against the drum may also be used with my invention. Thus, mating strips of a textured gripping material of a type sold under the trademark Vel-Cro" may be positioned on the crossband 20 and in a corresponding position on the drum [0. Further, a freely rotating roller (not shown) may be positioned with its axis parallel to the axis of the drum and pressing lightly and yieldably against the drum to force the document 24 against the drum in the vicinity of the roller. In such a case, the document need be held against the drum by the leading edge crossband 24 only and the trailing edge crossband may be omitted. Such a system is feasible, of course, only where the message on the document is not subject to smearing or other harmful effects caused by the roller.

So far I have described a drum loader which uses frictional engagement between the drum and an auxiliary loading mechanism to rotate the drum for loading and unloading.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the invention which utilizes flexible, springlike straps of sufficient strength to rewind themselves on the drum without the assistance of any auxiliary drum-rotating mechanism.

As was previously the case, the retainer bands 16 have hooks 36 at one end thereof which cooperate with corresponding hooks 38 on a tray 60 to enable the bands to be wound off the drum and into a horizontal plane tangential to the drum for loading the document. Crossbands are attached to these hooks for receiving a document as was the case with loader of FIGS. I to 3. The tray 60 is similar to the tray 28 previously described with the exception that the tray 60 does not have side shoulders in frictional engagement with the drum. Instead, the resilience of the traps 16 is utilized to rewind the straps around the drum and thereby position the document on the drum for scanning or other purposes. The tray 60 is pushed inwardly toward the drum (to the left in FIG. 5). This allows the straps 16 to coil up on the drum, the straps simultaneously rotating the drum while doing so in much the same manner as any other spiral spring arrangement.

The embodiment of FIG. 5 offers the advantage of simplicity of construction and operation and is desirable where economy of manufacture is a strong consideration. However, the restoring forces exerted by the retaining straps l6 and 18 when extended for loading are quite strong and the tray 60 must be firmly grasped to pull it out for loading and unloading. Where this characteristic is unacceptable, a compensated construction may be provided in which the restoring force generated by the retainer straps is nearly balanced by opposing springs so that the tray may be moved inwardly or outwardly with little effort.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a drum loader having such a construction. A drum 70 mounted for rotation on a shaft 72. A spring 90 of the type which exerts a substantially constant force when extended is mounted on a drum 92 below the tray 60 and is connected to the tray at one end. The spring 90 is fully wound on the drum when the tray is extended to its outmost position and is extended when the tray is pushed in completely. This spring generates a force of opposite direction to the force generated by the straps l6 and 18 so as to counterbalance these forces and enable the tray 60 to be moved with little effort. The straps l6 and 18 are essentially constant force springs, and therefore the spring forces are balanced over almost the entire travel of the tray 60, i.e., until the hooks 36 and 38 disengage after the tray has been pushed in. A latch (not shown) then holds the tray in this position.

In order to ensure that the straps will wind fully onto the drum 70 when a document is to be loaded, an additional spring may be incorporated into the drum itself. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, this is accomplished by mounting the shell of the drum on an outer hub 74 which is freely rotatable about the shaft 72. An inner hub 76 is keyed to the shaft 72. An indexing pin 78 extends into the hub 76 and maintains this hub in a predetermined position as long as the drum is not being rotated for scanning. A spring-loaded detent 80 extends in a radial direction from the inner hub 76 to the outer hub 74 to lock these hubs together when the drum is to be rotated for scanning. A lever 82 connected to the detent 80 extends through the end of hub 76. A coiled spring 86 is connected between the inner and outer hubs 76 and 74.

When the drum 70 is to be loaded or unloaded, the indexing pin 78 is held in place to prevent rotation of the hub 76. The detent 82 is then pulled upwardly out of the recess in the hub 76 and the tray 60 is pulled outwardly (to the right in FIG. 6). As the straps 16 and 18 are unwound from the drum, the hub 74 rotates with respect to the hub 76 and shaft 72 against the torque exerted by the interconnecting spring 86. This generates a restoring force which assists in rewinding the retainer bands on the drums when the tray 92 is pushed in.

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of a further embodiment of my invention, illustrating yet another way in which a document may readily be loaded onto a drum for scanning or other purposes. The hooks 36 on the straps 16, 18 engage corresponding hooks 106 attached to an auxiliary drum 108. When a document is to be loaded onto the drum 10 of FIG. 8, the auxiliary drum 108 is rotated in a clockwise direction so as to allow the hook 106 on the drum 108 to grasp the hooks 36 of the retaining straps 16, 18 and wind these straps up on the drum 108. When the retainer straps are fully drawn off the drum 100, the document 24 is fed onto the straps 16, 18 and is butted against positioning tabs 40 on the band 20. The drum 10 is then driven in a counterclockwise direction (in any of the modes described above) to cause the straps 16, 18 to rewind. The straps carry the document 24 onto and around the drum in the process of rewinding. When the drum 10 has rotated sufficiently counterclockwise, the hooks 36 and 106 disengage from each other and the drum 10 is then free for scanning or other purposes. in order to ensure that the hook 106 does not interfere with the book 36 when the drum 10 is rotated thereafter, the drum 108 is preferably rotated counterclockwise several degrees beyond the point of disengagement. Suitable indexing means may be provided to ensure that the books 36 are in position for engagement with the hooks 106 when a document is to be loaded onto, or unloaded from, the drum 10 ofFlG. 8.

An alternative method of unwinding the straps 16, 18 from the drum 10 is to provide the drum 108 with one or more auxiliary straps 110 which are attached to the drum at one end and which extend circumferentially around it outwardly of the straps 16 and 18 and the crossbands 20 and 22. The free ends of the auxiliary straps are made available to the operator, who grasps the straps and pulls them outwardly to rotate the drum 108 and thereby the drum 10. On release of the auxiliary straps, a spring (not shown) on drum 108 restores it to its initial position and causes the rewinding of the straps 16, 18 and 110 and disengagement of the hooks 36 and 106. The auxiliary straps 110 may also serve as document carriers; the document 24 is placed on them and when they are released they transfer the document to the straps 16, 18 as they move in toward the drum 108.

SUMMARY it will thus be seen that l have provided an improved device for loading a document onto a cylindrical drum and clamping it in against the drum surface. My drum loader uses flat, flexible straps which are easily unwound from the drum and ex tended during the loading operation. This allows the operator to load the document onto the bands in a horizontal position for transfer to the drum when the straps are subsequently rewound onto the drum. The devices of my invention are quick and simple to use and firmly clamp the document against the drum without the use of gripping devices which bend or tear the document.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

lt is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for loading a document onto a drum of a facsimile system whereon said document is to be scanned for copying on a rotating drum, said apparatus comprising A. a drum rotatable on an axis and laterally positioned by brackets,

B. at least two flexible retainer straps I 1. each having one end thereof attached to said drum,

2. windable upon said drum against the arcuate surface thereof and C. means for winding said straps onto said drum to position against said surface a document positioned on said straps,

1). means for releasing a second end of said straps from said winding means for rotation with the drum, and

E. said apparatus including a crossband 1. extending parallel with the axis of said drum to interconnect said retainer straps, and 2. arranged to position said document against said drum when said retainer straps are wound upon said drum.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein there are at least two of said crossbands successively arranged and forming means to interconnect the flexible straps at spaced locations along said straps and to position said document against said drum when said retainer straps are wound upon said drum.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said winding and unwinding means includes a second drum rotatable with respect to said first drum and comprising coupling means thereon to couple with the other ends of said flexible retainer straps, said coupling means forming means to wind the flexible strap onto said second drum.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said winding and unwinding means include a member positioned in substantially tangential relationship to, and in operable contact with, the drum and forming means to rotate said drum as said member is moved with respect to said drum.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 which includes A. a first engaging means connected to at least one of said retainer straps and said crossbands, and

B. a complementary engaging means connected to said member for engagement with said first engaging means when said member is moved in a first direction tangential to said drum for unwinding of said straps from said drum.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said drum has A. inner and outer hubs rotatable on said axis with respect to each other during loading and unloading,

B. first spring means interconnecting said hubs for generating a restoring force when said hubs are rotated with respect to each other, and

C. means for locking said hubs to each other when said drum is to be rotated other than for loading and unloading.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 which includes second spring means A. having one end attached to said member, and

B. opposing said first spring means on movement of said member with respect to said drum, thereby to at least partially balance the restoring force generated by said first means.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said drum and a said crossband are electromagnetically attractive one to the other, whereby facilitating the attachment of the crossband to the drum.

9. Apparatus according to claim 2 which includes means forming an aperture in said drum and an oversized, flexible head attached to at least one of said retainer straps and said crossbands are insertable into said aperture when said bands are wound onto said drum to thereby secure said bands to said drum.

[0. Apparatus for loading a document onto a drum of a facsimile system, said apparatus comprising A. a drum laterally positioned by brackets,

B. a pair of flexible, resilient, spring-biased retainer straps 1. each having one end thereof attached to said drum, 2. windable upon said drum in a circumferential direction,

C. at least one crossband 1. extending longitudinally along said drum between said straps and secured to said straps,

2. arranged to hold a document against the surface of said drum,

D. means for unwinding said band from said drum for receiving a document for loading onto said drum, and

E. in which said drum has a first hub attached thereto and freely rotatable with said drum about a shaft, a second hub coaxial with said first hub but rotatable with said shaft, means releasably connecting said hubs to ensure simultaneous rotation thereof at desired times, and spring means connected between said hubs and extensible to generate a restoring torque when said first hub is rotated with respect to said second hub to thereby rewind said bands onto said drum.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 in which the position of said second band is adjustable along said straps with respect to said first band, whereby documents of varying sizes may be accommodated by said bands.

12. Apparatus for loading a document onto a drum of a facsimile system, said apparatus comprising A. a drum laterally positioned by brackets,

B. a pair of flexible, resilient, spring-biased retainer straps,

l each having one end thereof attached to said drum,

2. windable upon said drum in a circumferential direction,

C. at least one crossband l. extending longitudinally along said drum between said straps and secured to said straps,

2. arranged to hold a document against the surface of said drum,

D. means for unwinding said bands from said drum for receiving a document for loading onto said drum, and

E. in which said means for unwinding said bands from said drum includes first coupling means on the free ends of said straps, an auxiliary drum, second coupling means complementary to said first coupling means connected to said drum and adapted to couple with said first coupling means when said auxiliary drum is rotated with respect to said first coupling means, and at least one auxiliary strap normally coiled around said drum and having an end thereof connected to said auxiliary drum, the other end thereof being accessible to an operator for unwinding from said first mentioned drum is to be loaded or unloaded.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 which includes a pair of auxiliary straps connected to said drum, said straps being unwindable from said auxiliary drum, said straps being unwindable from said auxiliary drum by an operator and being adapted to receive a document thereon when extended, said auxiliary straps being rewindable on said auxiliary drum to transfer said document to said retainer straps whereby said document may be loaded onto said first mentioned drum.

14. Apparatus for loading a document onto a drum of facsimile apparatus whereon said document is to be scanned or reproduced for copying, said apparatus comprising A. a drum rotatably mounted on an axis,

B. a hub for said drum mounted for rotation on said axis,

C. an index means releasably engageable with said hub to stop the motion thereof,

D. a releasable detent for locking said hub to said drum,

E. a flexible document retainer member mounted on a drum windin tray positioned tangentially to said drum, and wmdab e about said drum avmg one end thereof attached to the drum and one end releasable from said drum winding tray for rotation on said drum, and

F, a spring between said hub and said drum for generating torque therebetween on relative rotation thereof,

whereby 1. said index means may be actuated to lock said hub against rotation with said drum during winding and unwinding of said retainer member from said drum, and

2. said releasable detent may be disengaged allowing rotation of said drum against said spring to unwind the retainer member.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14 comprising unwinding means for engaging the free end of said retainer member to withdraw said free end from said drum and thereby unwind said retainer member by rotating said drum against the torque of said spring.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said unwinding means comprises a member positioned in substantially tangential relationship to, and in operable contact with the drum and forming means to rotate said drum as said member is moved with respect to said drum.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16 in which said member is in frictional engagement with said drum when being moved tangentially with respect thereto, thereby to rotate said drum.

18. Apparatus according to claim 16 in which said member extends horizontally beneath said drum and provides support for said straps when said straps are unwound from said drum.

19. Apparatus according to claim 16 in which said retainer straps are resilient and have a spring bias urging them to rewind on said drum after being unwound therefrom.

20. Apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said retainer member comprises at least two flexible straps 1. each having one end thereof attached to said drum, and

2. each being windable upon said drum against the arcuate surface thereof.

21. Apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said retainer member comprises at least two crossbands l. spaced apart along said retainer straps and parallel to the axis of said drum to interconnect said retainer straps and 2. arranged to position, succeedingly, said document against said drum when said retainer straps are wound upon said drum. 

1. Apparatus for loading a document onto a drum of a facsimile system whereon said document is to be scanned for copying on a rotating drum, said apparatus comprising A. a drum rotatable on an axis and laterally positioned by brackets, B. at least two flexible retainer straps
 1. each having one end thereof attached to said drum,
 2. windable upon said drum against the arcuate surface thereof and C. means for winding said straps onto said drum to position against said surface a document positioned on said straps, D. means for releasing a second end of said straps from said winding means for rotation with the drum, and E. said apparatus including a crossband
 1. extending parallel with the axis of said drum to interconnect said retainer straps, and
 2. arranged to position said document against said drum when said retainer straps are wound upon said drum.
 2. windable upon said drum against the arcuate surface thereof and C. means for winding said straps onto said drum to position against said surface a document positioned on said straps, D. means for releasing a second end of said straps from said winding means for rotation with the drum, and E. said apparatus including a crossband
 2. arranged to position said document against said drum when said retainer straps are wound upon said drum.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein there are at least two of said crossbands successively arranged and forming means to interconnect the flexible straps at spaced locations along said straps and to position said document against said drum when said retainer straps are wound upon said drum.
 2. windable upon said drum in a circumferential direction, C. at least one crossband
 2. arranged to hold a document against the surface of said drum, D. means for unwinding said band from said drum for receiving a document for loading onto said drum, and E. in which said drum has a first hub attached thereto and freely rotatable with said drum about a shaft, a second hub coaxial with said first hub but rotatable with said shaft, means releasably connecting said hubs to ensure simultaneous rotation thereof at desired times, and spring means connected between said hubs and extensible to generate a restoring torque when said first hub is rotated with respect to said second hub to thereby rewind said bands onto said drum.
 2. windable upon said drum in a circumferential direction, C. at least one crossband
 2. arranged to hold a document against the surface of said drum, D. means for unwinding said bands from said drum for receiving a document for loading onto said drum, and E. in which said means for unwinding said bands from said drum includes first coupling means on the free eNds of said straps, an auxiliary drum, second coupling means complementary to said first coupling means connected to said drum and adapted to couple with said first coupling means when said auxiliary drum is rotated with respect to said first coupling means, and at least one auxiliary strap normally coiled around said drum and having an end thereof connected to said auxiliary drum, the other end thereof being accessible to an operator for unwinding from said first mentioned drum is to be loaded or unloaded.
 2. said releasable detent may be disengaged allowing rotation of said drum against said spring to unwind the retainer member.
 2. each being windable upon said drum against the arcuate surface thereof.
 2. arranged to position, succeedingly, said document against said drum when said retainer straps are wound upon said drum.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said winding and unwinding means includes a second drum rotatable with respect to said first drum and comprising coupling means thereon to couple with the other ends of said flexible retainer straps, said coupling means forming means to wind the flexible strap onto said second drum.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said winding and unwinding means include a member positioned in substantially tangential relationship to, and in operable contact with, the drum and forming means to rotate said drum as said member is moved with respect to said drum.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 which includes A. a first engaging means connected to at least one of said retainer straps and said crossbands, and B. a complementary engaging means connected to said member for engagement with said first engaging means when said member is moved in a first direction tangential to said drum for unwinding of said straps from said drum.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said drum has A. inner and outer hubs rotatable on said axis with respect to each other during loading and unloading, B. first spring means interconnecting said hubs for generating a restoring force when said hubs are rotated with respect to each other, and C. means for locking said hubs to each other when said drum is to be rotated other than for loading and unloading.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6 which includes second spring means A. having one end attached to said member, and B. opposing said first spring means on movement of said member with respect to said drum, thereby to at least partially balance the restoring force generated by said first means.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said drum and a said crossband are electromagnetically attractive one to the other, whereby facilitating the attachment of the crossband to the drum.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 2 which includes means forming an aperture in said drum and an oversized, flexible head attached to at least one of said retainer straps and said crossbands are insertable into said aperture when said bands are wound onto said drum to thereby secure said bands to said drum.
 10. Apparatus for loading a document onto a drum of a facsimile system, said apparatus comprising A. a drum laterally positioned by brackets, B. a pair of flexible, resilient, spring-biased retainer straps
 11. Apparatus according to claim 10 in which the position of said second band is adjustable along said straps with respect to said first band, whereby documents of varying sizes may be accommodated by said bands.
 12. Apparatus for loading a document onto a drum of a facsimile system, said apparatus comprising A. a drum laterally positioned by brackets, B. a pair of flexible, resilient, spring-biased retainer straps,
 13. Apparatus according to claim 12 which includes a pair of auxiliary straps connected to said drum, said straps being unwindable from said auxiliary drum, said straps being unwindable from said auxiliary drum by an operator and being adapted to receive a document thereon when extended, said auxiliary straps being rewindable on said auxiliary drum to transfer said document to said retainer straps whereby said document may be loaded onto said first mentioned drum.
 14. Apparatus for loading a document onto a drum of facsimile apparatus whereon said document is to be scanned or reproduced for copying, said apparatus comprising A. a drum rotatably mounted on an axis, B. a hub for said drum mounted for rotation on said axis, C. an index means releasably engageable with said hub to stop the motion thereof, D. a releasable detent for locking said hub to said drum, E. a flexible document retainer member mounted on a drum winding tray positioned tangentially to said drum, and windable about said drum having one end thereof attached to the drum and one end releasable from said drum winding tray for rotation on said drum, and F. a spring between said hub and said drum for generating torque therebetween on relative rotation thereof, whereby
 15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14 comprising unwinding means for engaging the free end of said retainer member to withdraw said free end from said drum and thereby unwind said retainer member by rotating said drum against the torque of said spring.
 16. Apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said unwinding means comprises a member positioned in substantially tangential relationship to, and in operable contact with the drum and forming means to rotate said drum as said member is moved with respect to said drum.
 17. Apparatus according to claim 16 in which said member is in frictional engagement with said drum when being moved tangentially with respect thereto, thereby to rotate said drum.
 18. Apparatus according to claim 16 in which said member extends horizontally beneath said drum and provides support for said straps when said straps are unwound from said drum.
 19. Apparatus according to claim 16 in which said retainer straps are resilient and have a spring bias urging them to rewind on said drum after being unwound therefrom.
 20. Apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said retainer member comprises at least two flexible straps
 21. Apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said retainer member comprises at least two crossbands 